Borrow interior designer Matt Murphy's master bedroom as inspiration for a man's suit, and you'll create a well-constructed garment that merits a spot anywhere from a fashion runway to a boardroom where business deals are struck. His fashionable assemblage of midcentury modern furnishings atop a black-and-white rug patterned with concentric rectangles, plus shots of bold color, show that a self-assured man spends his nights here.

"I have a consistent personal style that rides the fence between traditional and modern," Murphy explains. "I like rooms with classic lines and contemporary forms, but with a level of formality."

Murphy designed the bold, slick rug to fit the long space. Its graphic and architectural motif complements the sharp lines of the modern furniture.

The long-and-narrow proportions of the bedroom suite provided a space that was easily divided into two areas: a sleeping area defined by a four-poster and a sitting area, shown here, anchored by a pair of wheat-colored chaise longues.

A fan of Tommi Parzinger-the well-known designer of furniture, lighting, and porcelain in the 1930s-Murphy punctuated the bedroom with Parzinger pieces, including the low-slung bed as well as the vanity and chair shown above.

To paint or not to paint-that's always the question when extraordinary wood paneling and moldings shape the perimeters of a room. When designer Noel Jeffrey was asked to create this showhouse living room, he chose to utilize the gorgeous woodwork, tempering its appeal with decorative elements that pull in the light.

"In the '80s, it was stylish to add dark colors to dark wood," says Jeffrey. "But now, clients are open to painting wood to lighten a space, or contrasting it with light-colored fabrics and furniture."

The primary seating arrangement in this living room consists of a silk damask sofa, a Louis XVI chair with gilded frame and chenille upholstery, and matching Art Deco-style armchairs in solid ivory silk arranged around a modern marble-and-iron coffee table from the 1950s.

"In a large room, multiple seating groups are essential," says Jeffrey, "but one must dominate. When all are the same scale, the room can look like a hotel lobby. Use a large seating area with other, intimate groupings."

Libraries are well known for the serious and cerebral atmosphere they create. They are, after all, places where intellect and imagination can be nurtured.

Designer Frank Ponterio wanted this library to look refined and debonair but with a comfortable and laid-back attitude that embraces new technology as well as the timeless magic of print.

"This library exudes a soft masculinity without being stuffy with heavy accessories and staid colors," says Ponterio. "Modern libraries are not always quiet, with electronic devices now adding to the information retrieval process. I showed that if you aren't hung up on design rules, you will be able to create a space that is multifunctional and comfortable, too."

Before furniture was placed, Ponterio bathed the walls of the large room in a creamy ivory color that radiates a pervasive glow. A gray-and-white marble fireplace surround creates a robust presence in the room, serving as an anchor that keeps the luminous space from feeling too expansive. Matching sofas-perfect for curling up with a laptop-are covered in a textural, cream-colored fabric. They are topped by pillows in an edgy combination of deep rust and flannel gray.